Just back from a pretty unpleasant walk with my 8 month old Labrador. I had found a small gate with a public footpath sign by it and decided it would be a nice walk. When we got onto the field we noticed it was literally just a field, no path ,nothing. But as there was no livestock on the field I let me girl run around a let off some energy (she was still on the lead but it’s a retractable one). All of a sudden a angry farmer sprints over to me and my wife and shouts that (in his words) we need to get the f*** of his land now. When we asked why, he claimed we weren’t following the path I explained there is no path at all not even grass that has been trodden on. He then moved onto say that my dog is running round shitting everywhere which then I explained that I have poo bags and I always pick up after her. He then carried on screaming to get off the land, as we didn’t want anymore hassle we did. Are there any rules/laws to say where my dog is allowed to walk when there is literally no path on the public footpath?

It doesn’t matter whether a footpath is visible or not, you must walk along its course. Sometimes the footpath sign or arrow will give a rough direction, but if you are in a new area or one you are not familiar with then carry an OS map showing footpaths or download the OS map app on your smart phone should you have one and get the map of the area on there.

The farmer has a right to protect his fields, there are several diseases that cattle and sheep can get from bacteria that can be found in dog poo. One of these diseases causes animals to abort foetuses which impacts on a farmers income greatly and I can understand why he was upset. Maybe other people have not been as assiduous as you in cleaning up after their dogs, he wouldn’t know this of course

On the other hand if you were following the correct footpath line and your dog was by your side and not on the grassland, then he has no right to order you off his land as public footpaths are a legal right of way, however an upset farmer is not someone to cross swords with in many instances.

You could report this to you local councils footpath officer of you wanted and perhaps steps could be taken to clearly show the line of the footpath

Okay thanks a lot

It does sound a bit over the top for an innocent mistake though, but perhaps the farmer is constantly discovering people wandering everywhere and not on the path....

Oh what a horrible experience. In Scotland we have the right to roam pretty much anywhere, including farmers fields and it works pretty well for dog owners and land owners alike so I don't understand this need to stick to a marked path. If no path is visible you have to find it on a map and hope you're walking in the right bit? Just move to Scotland

I sympathise too. And what about footpaths through fields where cows, often with calves ,are grazing. This is a risk to the lives of the public using the  right of way. It should be mandatory for framers to secure their cattle to avoid all risk to the public. There have been too many fatalities involving innocent members of the public while enjoying a walk in the countryside.

"If you take a dog with you, keep it under close control, and on a lead in fields with livestock; you have no more right to allow your dog to stray from the right of way than you do."

The arrow at the entrance to the field will point in the direction of the right of way.

Rights of Way law

I'm sorry, but I am not surprised he was furious. Dogs have to be under "close control" when being walked on footpaths..which basically means on a lead...unless its a paragon of obediance and stays within a very few feet of you at all times. Yes the field may have been empty when you entered it, but the farmer may have been in the process of moving herds or flocks or about to enter the field to let a bull loose? Probably everyone who walks across his land lets their dogs loose to "have a nice run" and few will pick up their poo. I'm sorry you had a shock and it must have been horrible to be shouted at but I can see his point of view. To you...its just a field, to him its his back garden!

Unless the footpath is regularly used, you won't be able to see an actual path BUT you should be able to follow the pointer on the sign, and see where the next gap through is across each field - and tempting as it is to let a dog run off lead if there is no livestock in the field, the dog should be under control at all times.   But you said she was on one of those, for me, ghastly retractable leads.    Clearly this farmer had had trouble with people before so you were on the receiving end of 'previous'.   The public should have right of way on posted land however provided they do stick to the indicated pathway, on land that isn't public land.   Best not to push his buttons however.

For information re Right to Roam
https://www.gov.uk/right-of-way-open-access-land/use-your-right-to-roam

trouble is many people don't realise grass is itself a crop. either being rested before live stock being put on it or growing for hay- in both cases its better if not been trampled or peed/crapped on .  and its amazing how many people do not pick up or even worse leave little plastic bags of poop for livestock to choke on.

I was told (by a local farmer) that as a great deal of kibble contains a high percentage of grain and that cows and horses can still smell it after it has passed through a dog. Consequently they eat it and it poisons them. I walked past a field recently where there was a notice informing dog walkers that as a result of their negligence a foal had been left without its mother. I really don’t understand why some people refuse to pick up their own dogs poo, my husband thinks I’m insane but I pick up other people’s dog’s poo as well as my own dogs, but I simply cannot leave it if I see it!!